Residents of apartment buildings and residential complexes tend to be extremely interested in the security of their building. Given the needs of a high-traffic residential building, security should remain a priority, as any mishap can put tenants and property at risk. Read this article to learn ways you can improve your apartment building's security systems. 

Upgrade Security Cameras

Just having cameras around an apartment complex may not be enough to ensure your tenants' safety. Older surveillance camera systems may have blind spots around the property allowing incidents to go undetected. Also, older systems may have poor resolution so what was detected is still unrecognizable during playback. If you have these issues, it's time to upgrade your apartment building's security surveillance system. The following are a few benefits of upgrading your system:

• To capture every angle, businesses would need to add several cameras around their property. However, megapixel surveillance cameras are able to scan and capture a larger area, allowing for a business to save money with fewer cameras needed. 
• The most important component about upgrading a property's surveillance camera is the benefit of higher resolution images and video. This is vital because if an incident were to occur, you'll need clear images that properly provide video evidence to effectively resolve the issue. High resolution images also offer businesses knowledge of issues that can occur to ensure these problems don't reoccur. 
• Unlike megapixel surveillance cameras, older surveillance camera systems don't have the capability to enhance the image or zoom in on specific details. This added feature allows the user to zoom in on specific features to best resolve the issue more quickly and efficiently. 
• Being able to detect criminal activity and retain saved video evidence is the main objective when investing in security surveillance cameras. However, deterring criminal activity by the mere presence of heightened security is often an overlooked commodity. Older surveillance systems are easily noticed and more incidents will occur when people feel they are able to "get away with it" because the security technology is unable to record the incident. New upgraded technology like megapixel surveillance cameras provide the high quality images but will also offer obvious heightened security to deter any criminal activity from occurring. 

Keep Up With Landscaping/Maintenance

It may sound weird to see in a section about landscaping in a security blog. However, you might be surprised how much a broken light or high vegetation can hinder security measures. Unkempt landscaping and maintenance creates opportunities for an incident to occur without detection. Disregard in this area can also be seen as a sign that other areas in the residence, such as security, are also neglected. Therefore, it's important to reduce hiding places and potential incidents from occurring.

Add An Access Control System

An access control system can be used to limit access to specific areas, ensuring that only authorized personnel can enter them. Access control can also factor in the time of day and day of the week, meaning that staff who have access to a building or an office during typical working hours can be barred entry at other times. These systems provide users with added security and greater peace of mind, as every time access is granted to your property it is logged and recorded for later review (if this becomes necessary). This small feature becomes invaluable if there is an investigation of vandalism or theft, or even for simply tracking the activities of suspicious activity that you want to keep an eye on.

Make Sure All Alarms Are Functional

Early warning is crucial for effective intrusion and fire safety, as this can occur anytime and anyplace. For housing complexes, it's important to install alarms on every floor of your building, because a fire can ignite or an intrusion can occur at any moment. With a new or upgraded alarm systems, you can be immediately alerted in the event of a fire or of an intrusion, if your system is connected to a remote monitoring station. Early warning fire systems and intrusion systems are critical to life safety for several reasons:

• Improve evacuation time for building occupants before a fire spreads out of control.
• Emergency medical help can be immediately requested for those in need.
• Fire department personnel can be notified to help people exit the building safely.
• Authorities can be alerted of the intrusion to provide assistance and undergo an investigation.

Hire Security Officers

Residential communities such as apartment complexes have a great need for security officers around the property. These residential communities house various types of people as well as families with young children. Therefore, having a place where families can feel safe is vital for this business. Security companies can provide several security solutions such as technology as well as trained and licensed security officers to prevent theft, vandalism, trespassing and other incidents that could occur. The officers will be trained to know the property inside and out to best protect its residents and even assist with other daily tasks as needed. 

Plus, security officers can do more than what most businesses think. Although their main job is to monitor the complex and improve overall safety, security officers can do much more. Security officers offer the added benefit of becoming customer service representatives. As a patrolling officer becomes immersed into company culture they understand your business inside and out. Customers feel comfortable walking up to uniformed security personnel to ask for directions or learn more about the business from someone who knows every inch of the property. Security officers can also assist customers by escorting them to their cars after dark or giving direction for different areas around the property. Another added benefit is helping monitor access for deliveries. As more and more people shop online, package delivery is now a bigger security issue in residential complexes. In other words, that’s a lot of potential traffic by unauthorized people.

USI Security | CT Security Solutions

For the past 30 years, USI has created safe, secure environments for commercial and government employees and customers by investing in our people, innovation and relationships. As engaged, owner-operators, our investment begins with recruitment and screening to ensure we have the right people and continues through our policies and practices that enable USI to properly train and retain the best personnel.

USI is engaged in supporting your security and business by developing customized security solutions that support your business objectives while cost-effectively minimizing risk. Clients receive continuous support from a highly responsive team of professionals including owners, management, field supervisors and officers. Our commitment to quality includes field inspections and audits, as well as investments in innovative solutions for continuous training and compliance.

Click below to schedule a no-cost property evaluation to see if your apartment complex has the security it needs.